#AirDropAidForGaza: Activists launch campaign for Gaza amid threats of a famine in northern region

Jerusalem (Quds News Network) – Activists and humanitarian workers have launched a fervent campaign calling for an immediate lift of the Israeli blockade on Gaza, specifically in the northern region, urging neighboring countries to activate aerial drops of badly needed aid.

Using hashtags such as #GazaAirDrop and #AirDropAidForGaza, the activists are directing their appeals towards Jordan, Egypt, and Turkey, imploring them to take decisive action in breaking the siege on northern Gaza as hunger intensifies.

The tragic situation is a direct consequence of the relentless Israeli military offensive and the blocking of humanitarian aid, including food and medicine, into the region by the Israeli military.

More than three months after the Israeli aggression on Gaza, the civilian population continue to suffer from acute shortages or complete absence of food and medicine, posing the imminent threat of a famine that could claim lives even after the bombings have ceased.

The destruction extends not only to physical infrastructure but also to the healthcare system in the region. In addition to the looming famine resulting from food shortages, residents face the added risks of diseases and epidemics due to the accumulation of waste and a severe shortage of medication.

The situation has reached a critical point where doctors are compelled to perform major surgeries without anesthesia, including limb amputations.

On Monday, the Gaza Government Media Office declared the depletion of remaining wheat, rice, and canned goods in north Gaza, marking the beginning of a genuine famine.

The situation is dire for the 800,000 Palestinians still present in the region, as the Israeli blockade forces them to resort to grinding animal feed and grains as a desperate measure in the face of the lost wheat.

Media appeals

Since the onset of the war, Arab populations and activists have been fervently urging their respective countries to provide humanitarian aid to Gaza.

Their demands include the immediate opening of the Rafah crossing and the establishment of an air bridge to Egypt’s Arish airport, facilitating the transportation of aid through Rafah border crossing to the people of Gaza.

Egyptian journalist Osama Gawish, in his program “آخر كلام” (Last Words) on Mekameleen channel, declared an end to mere demands and appeals, emphasizing the need for tangible action to save Gaza by air, land, and sea.

He questioned the possibility of Arab countries organizing an air bridge for humanitarian aid to Gaza.

British writer David Hearst suggested that Egypt could invite members of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation to join in an air drop of aid, drawing parallels to the allies breaking the Berlin blockade in 1948.

He argued that such a humanitarian air bridge would expose the hypocrisy of the West shedding crocodile tears for starving Gazans.

Hearst acknowledged the unlikely nature of such an intervention due to the prioritization of dictatorship, exemplified by the el-Sisi regime, solely focused on maintaining power.

Simultaneously, Time magazine highlights the dire situation in Gaza, stating that the regular flow of essential supplies, including food and water, has completely halted since the Israeli war.

The scarcity of materials has led to a surge in malnutrition, especially among children, prompting the UN Relief and Works Agency chief to warn of an imminent famine.

Amid these desperate conditions, unconventional measures are being considered, as demonstrated by France and Jordan, who recently airdropped seven tons of urgent medical aid to a field hospital in Jordan.

The success of this operation has sparked discussions about using the same approach for airborne delivery of food supplies.

Ahmed Fuad Al-Khatib, a Middle East affairs analyst with personal ties to Gaza, suggests that aerial drops could be a viable solution to the hunger crisis. However, concerns arise about the logistical challenges and the distribution of aid once it reaches Gaza.

International legal challenges and possible solutions

Despite Israel’s claims that the Rafah crossing at Egypt’s order, past incidents of shelling the crossing raise questions. Even during humanitarian ceasefires, Israel insisted on inspecting aid convoys passing through the crossing. This prompts the consideration of alternative routes.

Military and strategic expert Nidal Abu Zeid suggests that establishing an Arab airlift to El-Arish in Egypt and then transporting aid by land to Rafah could be a feasible option. He emphasizes that military conditions do not inherently oppose the creation of an airlift, given the homogeneity of Arab airspace.

Abu Zeid explains that the humanitarian and logistical nature of aid could leverage international legitimacy and support for such an airlift. He argues that if Western countries endorse this effort, Israel would face difficulties opposing it, potentially leading to embarrassment on the global stage.

Abu Zeid further highlights that implementing or merely proposing an airlift puts Israel in a precarious position.

The recent shift in Israel’s public image, revealing what some perceive as a rogue state, adds to the pressure. The idea of an Arab airlift becomes a tool to expose Israel’s actions before international courts.

While Israel may resist such proposals, Abu Zeid believes that the mere consideration of an airlift option creates additional pressure, especially if Western countries acknowledge the humanitarian need.

This, he argues, may force Israel to reconsider its stance or face growing international criticism.